Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes an outer case that defines an exterior of the refrigerator, a freezer case that is disposed in the outer case and defines a freezer compartment, an ice maker configured to generate ice, an ice maker return duct configured to supply a cold air from the ice maker to the freezer compartment, and a vacuum insulator disposed between the outer case and a first portion of the ice maker return duct. The first portion of the ice maker return duct is disposed closer to the outer case than a second portion of the ice maker return duct in which the vacuum insulator is not disposed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 an outer case that defines an exterior of the refrigerator;   a freezer case that is disposed in the outer case and defines a freezer compartment;   an ice maker configured to generate ice;   an ice maker return duct configured to supply a cold air from the ice maker to the freezer compartment; and   a vacuum insulator disposed between the outer case and a first portion of the ice maker return duct,   wherein the first portion of the ice maker return duct is disposed closer to the outer case than a second portion of the ice maker return duct in which the vacuum insulator is not disposed.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker return duct is curved from a rear end of the vacuum insulator toward an inside of the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a refrigerator case that is disposed in the outer case and disposed above the freezer case,   wherein the first portion of the ice maker return duct extends from a rear portion of a first side surface of the freezer case to a front portion of a first side surface of the refrigerator case, and   wherein the second portion of the ice maker return duct is disposed at the rear portion of the first side surface of the freezer case and extends in a vertical direction.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a refrigerator case that is disposed in the outer case and disposed above the freezer case,   wherein the ice maker return duct comprises:   a return duct inclination part that defines a return duct inlet configured to receive the cold air from the ice maker, the return duct inclination part extending from a front portion of the refrigerator case to a rear portion of the freezer case;   a return duct bend part that is connected to the return duct inclination part and extends rearward, the return duct bend part being curved in a direction away from the outer case;   a return duct vertical part that is connected to the return duct bend part and extends in a vertical direction; and   a return duct connection part that extends forward and defines a return duct outlet connected to the return duct vertical part, the return duct outlet being configured to discharge the cold air to the freezer compartment, and   wherein the vacuum insulator is disposed at the return duct inclination part, and the vacuum insulator is not disposed at the return duct vertical part and the return duct connection part.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the return duct bend part has (i) a first part connected to the return duct inclination part and (ii) a second part connected to the return duct vertical part, and
 wherein a distance between the return duct bend part and the outer case increases from the first part of the return duct bend part toward the second part of the return duct bend part.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the return duct bend part is curved in a horizontal direction and the vertical direction. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the ice maker return duct is disposed above the second portion of the ice maker return duct. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the ice maker return duct extends diagonally from a lower end of the ice maker return duct toward a front of the ice maker return duct.